Neurosurgery

What to Expect

If you are scheduled to visit with the neurosurgery team - for a test, a procedure or surgery - you'll want to come prepared.

In this section, we'll help you find out what to expect before, during and after a visit and get the answers to some common questions.

Neurosurgery Clinic

You most likely have many questions about Seattle Children's and how to prepare your child for her clinic visit. Get more information about your child's clinic visit, including:

Important things to do before the appointment

Tips on helping your child feel safer about the upcoming visit

Paperwork to remember the day of the appointment

Suggested questions to ask your child's doctor

How to prepare for care at home

What happens during a clinic appointment?

After check-in, your child's certified medical assistant will take you and your child to an exam room. Next, members of the neurosurgery team will see your child.

Your child's doctor may order some tests, such as an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and/or a CT (computed tomography) scan. Occasionally, we have children go to the lab for blood work. Your child may need follow-up clinic visits and possibly more testing.

Surgery

Preparing your child and yourselves for surgery may help reduce your family's stress during this time.

Our team is committed to helping children who need neurosurgery and their families cope well with the experience. We want you to know what's going to happen each step of the way.

Seattle Children’s complies with applicable federal and other civil rights laws and does not discriminate, exclude people or treat them differently based on race, color, religion (creed), sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin (ancestry), age, disability, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law. Financial assistance for medically necessary services is based on family income and hospital resources and is provided to children under age 21 whose primary residence is in Washington, Alaska, Montana or Idaho.